( 01. ) HAVE FAITH
Caius Volts was sat on a plush maroon sofa in his home in District Five's Victor's Village. On the screen in front of him was President Snow dressed in the finest of suits; preparing to make his announcement of what this year's Quarter Quell would entail. Caius couldn't care less about what it would be, in fact he dreaded watching these announcements along with the reapings. It brought him back to his own time in the arena, along with that of his girlfriend’s and it made him shudder knowing that only one out of the twenty-four tributes would remain alive at the end. However, no matter how much Caius wanted to be curled up in bed with a liquor bottle curdled in his grasp, his honorary mother and father had forced him to sit and watch along with him.
Crystalline Adler was sat to his left while Baron Adler was sat to his right, each adult holding on to Caius’ hands. They knew this was a hard time for him, just as it was a hard time for them. The Hunger Games always brought back the image of their daughter being brutally killed on live television. Emiliana and Adeline Adler were sat on their knees on the ground in front of the projection, equally as nervous as the other family members. As expected, the death of their sister had been very traumatic for the both of them. Although now both being in their twenties, the girls still lived in the large house that Caius had ‘won’ the privilege to but the boy didn't mind. He much preferred being in a crowded place rather than alone to dwell in his depressive thoughts. The house was much too big for only one, or even for the five people that did reside in it.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” President Snow spoke as he stood on a platform in front of the crowd and all the people watching from home. His chilling voice and evil smile enough to make anyone grimace.
Caius grit his teeth in anger at the sight of the old man and Crystalline, noticing his tension, squeezed his hand slightly while offering him a gentle smile. “Its okay, Caius. He can't hurt you.”
Caius glanced over at his adoptive mother and offered her a grim smile yet nodded his head before turning back to the screen. “You're right.”
“This is the 75th year of The Hunger Games.” The president continued, gathering the rapt attention of all those across Panem, everyone as equally terrified yet also curious to know what this year's Quarter Quell would entail. “And it was written in the charter of The Games that every twenty five years, there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died in the uprising against The Capitol. Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by Games of a special significance. And now on this the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the 3rd Quarter Quell as a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of The Capitol.”
Caius’ head tilted curiously at their president's words, confused on what he was getting at. Usually, you could guess what the Quarter Quell would be yet this time Caius was completely stumped. He continued to listen to Snow's speech.
“On this, the 3rd Quarter Quell Games, the male and female Tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of Victors in each district.” Those were the fatal words to past Victors all over the districts.
“No! Not again! They can't take my baby again!” Baron Adler sobbed as he grasped Caius tightly, refusing to let him go. At the same time, Crystalline rose a shaky hand to cover her mouth as she gasped, gripping Caius’ hand tightly. Emiliana and Adelina both rushed over to their brother, hugging his legs as they rested their heads in his lap.
All of the Adler family was surrounding him, offering the boy their support while said boy was sat frozen, breath caught in his throat as he wasn't entirely sure President Snow had just said what he thought. No, he thought while shaking his head vehemently, it couldn't be. Although his sobbing family members that held on to him tightly like they were refusing to let him go confirmed it for him.
President Snow hadn't finished speaking and Caius watched him still frozen in his spot, eyes wide in fear. “Victors shall present themselves on Reaping Day, regardless of age, state of health or situation.”
That was the nail in the coffin, Caius would be thrown into the arena once more, forced to survive until he either died or he killed everyone else. A loud sob from his mother broke him out of his reverie.
“C-Caius, where are you going?” Baron stuttered as he watched his son untangle himself from his family's grasp. His moves were jerky and harsh, his hands shaky as he wasn't in control of his actions, mind filled with images of Katrina's games, his games, and what would happen this time around.
“I-I just need to go.” Caius rushed out, voice shaky as he stumbled to throw on his coat and stuff his feet into his boots. His family didn't want him to leave, after all, these could be the last few moments they spent with the boy. However, they understood how hard it must've been for him and reluctantly let him go.
“Alright,” Crystalline hesitated, wiping her nose on the back of her sleeve. “Just try to be home for dinner.”
Caius paused, not sure if he should promise that when he had no idea where he was going or how long he would be gone for, yet one look at his teary eyed family and he nodded his head in affirmation. The sound of the door slamming on Caius’ way out rung in his ears for the next few moments.
Caius let out a few deep breath as he walked, watching how a small cloud emitted from his mouth due to the chilly air. His hands were stuffed into his pockets as he had forgotten to bring gloves; walking down the path in the Victor's Village, not quite sure where he was going until he was walking up the steps to a house and knocking on the door.
Edison Albright opened his front door and immediately understood why Caius had shown up there. Edison had been Caius’ mentor when he was in the games and the two had grown quite close, the boy seeing the older man as a sort of father figure. Volts knew that Edison was going through the same things he was and he could think of no one better to turn to than him.
“Why don’t you come in?” Albright offered with a gentle smile, opening the door wider for Caius to enter. He hurriedly did so, sighing in relief as the warm air hit his frost bitten cheeks. “Make yourself at home.” Edison ordered as he bustled to the kitchen, Caius being able to hear some clanging of pots and the opening of cupboards. The young boy sat down on the plush sofa that was so similar to his own, yet rather than a maroon, it was an emerald green. He rubbed his hands together to spread the warmth of the house as he patiently waited for his mentor.
Not even a few moments later, Edison was walking back into the large room, a tray in his hands which held an assortment of cups, spoons as well as a large, light blue teapot. Caius smiled once he saw the tea as the elder man had seemed to remember and make his favourite - strawberry and kiwi.
“Thank you, Eddie,” he said, the nickname for his fellow Victor he had come up with back when he was sixteen rolling off his tongue easily. He picked up the matching cup to the teapot, gently blowing on the surface before taking a big gulp. Caius sighed in relief as the scalding liquid slid down his throat.
“So I suppose you heard the announcement of the Quarter Quell?” Edison presumed, sighing sadly once the smaller boy nodded his head, looking down at his lap; the teacup still clutched tightly in his hands.
“It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be going back into the arena,” Edison started, reminding Caius that there were two male Victors - the two that were currently sat on the sofa together.
Caius’ brown eyes widened as he looked over at Edison in alarm. “No,” he spit out harshly. “If I get reaped, you are not volunteering.”
“You're only a boy, Caius. I am much older and have lived my life.” Edison brought up patiently, his usual soothing voice doing nothing to ease Caius’ nerves. No matter how much Volts didn't want to go back into the arena, he refused to allow someone he thought of like a second father to take his place.
“That doesn't matter,” Caius brushed off urgently. “I have a chance of making it out again, but you…” They both knew what he meant. The elder man wasn't as agile as he once had been and with all the new, young tributes, Edison didn't have a chance of surviving the games.
The two men were silent for a few moments; both equally as stubborn as the other and refusing to back down.
“How about,” Edison spoke up slowly, carefully thinking over the words he was about to say. “No matter which one of us gets reaped, the other will not volunteer in their place.”
Caius thought over as he continued to drink his fruity tea. That would leave him with a fifty/fifty chance yet he supposed he would have to take that chance and see who was the luckier one out of the two.
“Alright,” Caius eventually breathed with a sigh, finishing off his drink before placing the cup gently down on to the mahogany coffee table.
Edison nodded with a soft smile, placing his hand on to Caius’ shoulder and offering it a gentle squeeze before letting go. “More tea?” He asked while holding up the tea cup to reiterate his question.
Caius nodded in reply and muttered a brief ‘thank you’ once the now full cup was placed back in his hands.
“You shouldn't worry so much.” Edison advised, noticing how the younger boys brows had furrowed, eyes squinting as though he were thinking deeply about something. “Everything will work out the way it's supposed to.”
Caius looked at Edison in amazement, chuckling as he shook his head in disbelief. “I don't know how you can have so much faith after everything we've been through.”
Edison laughed along with the boy, knowing that it may have been ridiculous to some yet to him, he never had stopped believing that things happened for a reason.
“Well,” he began, clearing his throat as he shifted on the couch to look at Caius straight on. “Without faith we are nothing. Faith is what got me through my games, the notion that if it was my time to die, I would - but I didn't. I survived. And not just because of faith in the universe, but because of my faith in myself. I believed that I could win - and I did, as morally as possible. But you already know all this. What I'm trying to say is no matter what you have faith in, whether it be a higher power or yourself, it is what keeps us alive.”
Caius hummed in thought as he mulled it over; the words that Edison had said bouncing around in his head as he tried to find a meaning to them. He understood what the older man was saying but after everything that had happened to him, it was hard to have faith in anything. Caius finished his second cup of tea before giving the mentor a toothy grin.
“Well I have faith that this year's games will be unlike any other.”
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So heres the first chapter! I've had it written for a while but I wanted to have the second chapter complete before I posted it, ans I finished writing that today so here you go! This chapter is dedicated to reloading- for being so kind and helpful and also being a fan of hunger games fics, and we both agree that there should be more! She has a few on her page so be sure to check them out :)
What do you guys think of this chapter? Of the Adlers? Of Caius so far? Of Edison? Let me know!
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